Guided door hinge mechanism



1965 G. M. APOLLONI ETAL 3,223,445

GUIDED DOOR HINGE MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1963 .1 S Y WW2 m m N 5 ff.

1965 e. M. APOLLONI ETAL 3,

GUIDED DOOR HINGE MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1965 e. M. APOLLONI ETAL 3,

GUIDED DOOR HINGE MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 15, 1963 .Z y M @w m M United States Patent 3,223,445 GUIDED DOOR IHNGE MECHANISM Gino M. Apolloni, Pontiac, Harry A. Mackie, Birmingham, and William J. Streetrnan, Madison Heights, Mich, assignors to General Motors Corporation, De-

troit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 13, 1963, Ser. No. 287,719 7 Claims. (Cl. 29644) This invention relates to door hinge mechanism for an automotive vehicle door and the like particularly adapted to facilitate door opening in a space restricted by a curb or other obstruction and to provide easier access to either the front or rear seat compartment of such a vehicle.

The invention contemplates an improved vehicle door hinging arrangements wherein two vertically spaced pendulum hinge members support and simultaneously swing the door upwardly and outwardly of the vehicle door opening to a raised fully opened position. A door guiding cam and a suitable door counterbalancing spring means assist and control such door opening movement.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of an automotive vehicle showing the illustrative operational environment of the counterbalanced and cam guided pendulum hinges of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated at 22 of FIG- URE 1 and shows an upper door mounting hinge embodying the invention in its closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a similar view taken substantially in the plane indicated at 33 of FIGURE 1 and shows a lower door mounting hinge constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view sectioned substantially in the plane indicated at 44 in FIGURE 1 and shows the several door, hinge and counterbalancing elements in their door-closed positions;

FIGURE 5 is another view showing the several ele ments in their door-closed positions and is taken substantially in the direction of the arrows and in the plane indicated at 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 5 and shows the positions assumed by the several hinge and door counterbalancing elements upon movement of the door to its fully opened position;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken substantially in the same plane as FIGURE 2 and shows the door and the upper hinge in their fully opened positions; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken substantially in the same plane as FIGURE 3 and shows the door and the lower hinge in their fully opened positions.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 1, an automotive vehicle body is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 and has a rear door opening 12 partially defined by a center body pillar 13. A door 14 is hinged to the pillar 13 and normally closes the doorway opening. To provide easier access to the rear seat compartment, the door 14 may be substantially longer and somewhat heavier than those currently in use. In accordance with the invention, two vertically spaced pendulum hinges 16 and 18 mount the door on the pillar for simultaneous upward and outward swinging movement relative to the vehicle body. Such door opening movement is controlled by door guiding cam means 20 associated with the lower hinge mechanism and is assisted by a counterbalancing spring 22 interposed between the pillar and the door.

As best seen in FIGURES 2, 3, 7 and 8, the pillar 13 is of hollow fabricated construction and provides a flange portion 13 vertically nested between the adjacent door edges. This vertical flange mounts the striker for the front door latch and the rear door supporting hinges 16 and 18. These hinge assemblies are essentially the same except for the dimensional differences required to provide desired door opening geometry. In the illustrative embodiment, the cooperating elements of the door guiding cam means are formed integrally of the door and pillar mounted members of the lower hinge.

The upper hinge 16 shown in FIGURES 2 and 4-7 comprises a bracket 24 secured to the pillar flange 13'. This bracket defines a clevis opening obliquely inclined outwardly and rearwardly of the door opening. A pin 26 extends between the clevis arms and pivotally supports the upper end of a pendulum hinge member 28 for swinging movement in the plane of the clevis. A flanged bracket 30 is secured to the adjacent edge of the rear door at a point below the bracket 24 when the door is in its closed position. This door mounted bracket has a transverse flange 32 which threadably mounts a depending ball-headed stud 34. The ball head 36 of this stud is seated in a spherical socket 38 provided in the lower end of the pendulum hinge member 28 and thus forms a universal swivel connection between the door mounted bracket and the pillar mounted pendulum.

The lower hinge 18 is shown in FIGURES 3-6 and 8 and comprises a bracket 44 secured to the lower portion of the pillar flange 13. The upper end of this bracket provides a clevis opening obliquely inclined outwardly and rearwardly of the door opening in substantially parallel relation to the clevis of the upper hinge bracket 24. A pin 46 extending transversely between the clevis arms of this lower hinge bracket pivotally supports the upper end of a pendulum hinge member 48 for swinging movement substantially in the same plane as the pendulum member 28 of the upper hinge. A cooperating flanged hinge bracket 50 is secured to the forward edge of the rear door 14 below the clevis of the pillar mounted bracket 44. This lower door mounted bracket has a transverse flange 52 similar to the flange 32 of the upper hinge bracket 30. The flange 52 threadably mounts 21 depending ball-headed stud 54. The head 56 of this stud is pivotally embraced by a socket 58 formed in the lower end of the pendulum hinge member 48 to provide a lower swivel connection therebetween.

The door counterbalancing spring 22 is of a helical extension type and tensively interposed between an anchor 66 secured to the pillar 13 adjacent the upper hinge mechanism and an anchor 62 on the lower door mounted hinge bracket 50. The tensive biasing action of the spring 22 thus tends to lift the door and thereby assists door opening movement upon release of the rear door latch mechanism, not shown. Such spring biased door lifting movement causes the pendulum hinge members 28 and 48 to swing upwardly and rearwardly outwardly of the vehicle door opening 12.

To provide simultaneous outward swinging movement of the rear edge of the door to its fully opened position with respect to the ball and socket swivel connections of the hinges 16 and 18, a door camming guide channel 64 is secured to the lower end of the pillar mounted bracket 44. In the illustrative embodiment, this guide channel has a downwardly opening C-channeled crosssection and is provided with a serpentine curvature corresponding to the desired path of door opening movement. A guide channel following arm 66 is formed integrally of the door mounted bracket 50 and extends forwardly and slightly downwardly from the lower portion thereof when the rear door is in its closed position shown in FIGURES 3-5. The depending end of the arm 66 threadably supports a stud 68 having an upstanding ball head 70. This ball head is slidable within the door camming guide channel to effect desired outward swinging of the door simultaneously and in accordance with the upward swinging movement efifected by the cooperative action of the pendulum hinge members and the counterbalancing spring 22. As best shown in FIGURE 8, the upper, rearward end of the guide channel is partially closed at 72 and cooperates with the ball head 70 to provide a door-check establishing the fully opened position of the door.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the invention provides a relatively simple spring counterbalanced pendulum hinge mechanism capable of simultaneously lifting and swinging a vehicle door through a controlled path of movement to thereby facilitate door opening and access to the interior of the vehicle. It will be further apparent that various modifications and changes might be made in and from the disclosed embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a vehicle body including a door swingable to close a substantially vertical door opening therein, a concealed hinge mechanism comprising a pair of pendulum hinge members, means pivotally mounting the upper ends of said pendulum hinge member on the "ehicle body at one side of the door opening for upward swinging movement about vertically spaced and substantially horizontal parallel axes, means pivotally connecting the lower end of each of said pendulum hinge members to the adjacent side face of the door to permit simultaneous compound swinging movement of the door upwardly and outwardly of the door opening by said pendulum hinge members about their body mounted pivotal axes and outwardly of the pivotal lower ends of said hinge members toward a raised and fully opened door position, spring means interposed between said door and body and operable to counterbalance and assist swinging movement of the door between its lower closed and fully opened raised positions, and guide means intermediate said door and body and operable to effect controlled outward swinging of said door about the lower pivotal connecting means simultaneously and in accordance with the upward door swinging movement effected by said pendulum hinge members, said guide means including a guide channel of curved configuration mounted on said body adjacent the pivotal mounting of one of the pendulum hinge members, a guide following arm secured to the door face adjacent said guide channel and a bearing member carried by said arm and slidably engaging said guide channel to control opening movement of said door.

2. In a vehicle body having a concealed hinge mechnism as set forth in claim 1, said horizontal pivotal axes being inclined rearwardly inwardly of the vehicle body whereby the spring assisted upward swinging movement effected by said pendulum hinge members carries the hinge mounted door face upwardly and rearwardly outwardly of the body door opening during simultaneous swinging of the door to its fully opened raised position by said guide means.

3. In a vehicle body member having a door member moveable to close a door opening therein, a concealed hinge mechanism comprising a pair of pendulum hinge members, vertically spaced bracket means pivotally mounting each of said pendulum hinge members on one side of the vehicle body door opening for upward swinging movement about substantially horizontal parallel axes, swivel means pivotally connecting the lower end of each of said pendulum hinge members to the adjacent side face of the door to permit swinging movement of the door member outwardly of the body opening about the pivotally connected lower ends of said pendulum hinge members and independently of door swinging movement imparted to the hinge members, and cam means intermediate said body and door and operable to guide outward swinging of said door about said swivel means simultaneously and in accordance with the upward swinging door movement elfected by the pendulum hinge members thereby carrying the door between a lower closed position and a raised, fully opened position.

4. In a vehicle body having a concealed hinge mechanism as set forth in claim 3, spring means interposed between said door and body and operable to counterbalance and assist swinging movement of the door between its lower closed and fully opened raised positions.

5. In a vehicle body having a concealed hinge mechanism as set forth in claim 3, said horizontal pivotal axes being inclined inwardly of the vehicle body whereby the upward swinging movement effected by said pendulum hinge members carries the hinge mounted side face of the door upwardly and rearwardly outwardly of the body door opening during simultaneous swinging of the door to its fully opened raised position by said guide means.

6. In combination with a vehicle body member having a door member hinged to close a door opening therein, a concealed hinge mechanism comprising a pair of pendulum hinge members, a first pair of vertically spaced brackets secured to the vehicle body member at one side of the door opening and pivotally mounting each of said pendulum hinge members for upward swinging movement about substantially horizontal parallel axes, a second pair of brackets secured to the adjacent side face of the door member in vertically spaced relation below said first brackets, swivel means pivotally connecting each of said second brackets to the lower end of the adjacent pendulum hinge member for swinging movement of the door member outwardly of the lower ends of the pendulum hinge members and independently of door swinging movement imparted to the hinge members, and guide means intermediate said door face and body opening and operable to efi'eot outward swinging of said door about said swivel means simultaneously and in accordance with the upward door swinging movement elfected by the pendulum hinge members thereby translating the door between a lower closed position and a fully opened raised position, and spring means interposed between the hinge mounted face of the door and the body door opening and operable to counterbalance and assist swinging movement of the door between its lower closed and fully opened raised positions, said horizontal pivotal axes being inclined rearwardly and inwardly of the vehicle body whereby the spring assisted upward swinging movement effected by said pendulum hinge members carries the hinge mounted door face upwardly and rearwardly outwardly of the body door opening during simultaneous swinging of the door to its fully opened raised position by said guide means.

7. In the combination set forth in claim 6, said guide means including a guide channel of curved configuration mounted on one of said body and door members, and a guide following arm carried by the other of said body and door members and having an end portion thereon slidably engageable within said guide channel to effect outward swinging of the door simultaneously and in accordance with the spring biased upward swinging of the door member effected by the pendulum hinge members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,027,833 1/1936 Lefevre 16-164 2,085,616 6/1937 Voge 16-164 2,178,908 11/1939 Hudson 16-164 2,994,907 8/1961 Hammond 16-163 3,095,600 7/1963 Bretzner 296-46 X BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

A. HARRY LEVY, Examiner. 

1. IN A VEHICLE BODY INCLUDING A DOOR SWINGABLE TO CLOSE A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL DOOR OPENING THEREIN, A CONCEALED HINGED MECHANISM COMPRISING A PAIR OF PENDULUM HINGE MEMBERS, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID PEDULUM HINGE MEMBER ON THE VEHICLE BODY AT ONE SIDE OF THE DOOR OPENING FOR UPWARD SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT VERTICALLY SPACED AND SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PARALLEL AXES, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE LOWER END OF EACH OF SAID PENDULUM HINGE MEMBERS TO THE ADJACENT SIDE FACE OF THE DOOR TO PERMIT SIMULTANEOUS COMPOUND SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE DOOR UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY OF THUE DOOR OPENING OF THE DOOR UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY ABOUT THEIR BODY MOUNTED PIVOTAL AXES AND OUTWARDLY OF THE PIVOTAL LOWER ENDS OF SAID HINGE MEMBERS TOWARD A RAISED AND FULLY OPENED DOOR POSITION, SPRING MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID DOOR AND BODY AND OPERABLE TO COUNTERBALANCE AND ASSIST SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE DOOR BETWEEN ITS LOWER CLOSED AND FULLY OPENED RAISED POSITIONS, AND GUIDE MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID DOOR AND BODY AND OPERABLE TO EFFECT CONTROLLED OUTWARD SWINGING OF SAID DOOR ABOUT THE LOWER PIVOTAL CONNECTING MEANS SIMULTANEOUSLY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UPWARD DOOR SWINGING MOVEMENT EFFECTED BY SAID PENDULUM HINGE MEMBERS, SAID GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING A GUIDE CHANNEL OF CURVED CONFIGURATION MOUNTED ON SAID BODY ADJACENT THE PIVOTAL MOUNTING OF ONE OF THE PENDULUM HINGE MEMBERS, A GUIDE FOLLOWING ARM SECURED TO THE DOOR FACE ADJACNET SAID GUIDE CHANNEL AND A BEARING MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID ARM AND SLIDABLY ENGAGING SAID GUIDE CHANNEL TO CONTROL OPENING MOVEMENT OF SAID DOOR. 